Want to Import a BMW G650 GS from the US

Hi Everyone,
I understand that as a legal working resident of China I am entitled to import, free of tax, one vehicle which can be a motorcycle, as long as it is brand new. I'm pretty sure there is a lot of hassle and paperwork required to do this but the price difference is enormous and well, it is worth the hassle to me!

I live in Kunming and there are a lot of good backroads here to explore and I plan to stay for some years so I'm very serious about this.

If you have any first hand knowledge of doing this please write to me. If you know any trustworthy customs agents or freight forwarders I also need that info. I currently have a Chinese license and a Honda 230 dual sport, legally registered and licensed in my name for Kunming. I've ridden here for the last 6 months. It's seriously too small and too uncomfortable for long trips. I've got some long trips planned and plenty of beautiful places to visit in Yunnan and maybe some neighboring areas.

I'm a California resident and can buy a bike in Oregon with no sales tax and ship it from there to here. It has to go all the way to Kunming and be cleared by customs in Kunming, not Shanghai or Guangzhou. It has to clear at the final destination.

Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. I am only interested in a BMW G650 GS, nothing larger and not interested in other brands. I've done a lot of riding all over South America and intend to do more here.
Cheers,
Rob

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Originally Posted by laoshi19

I understand that as a legal working resident of China I am entitled to import, free of tax, one vehicle which can be a motorcycle, as long as it is brand new.

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Working for the foreign service (embassy / consulate / etc.) by any chance as the last time I heard and have seen this type of motor-vehicle import into China the fully legal way was in the late 90's. Anyhow, the more experienced MCM members will chime in, quite sure about that..... good luck anyhow and yes ~ great riding in Yunnan province and right next door = Sichuan province.

Welcome laoshi19

Good News - You live in a fantastic place compared to the majority of us here on MCM, enjoy it.

Bad News - You're probably not going to be able to buy a motorcycle in America and ship it here. I think your information is very much out of date, and as TBR mentioned, I think you need diplomatic status to qualify for the 1 vehicle deal. I've heard some businesses with large capital investments in certain economic zones can still do this. I tried to do it Guangdong and in Tianjin, failed in both places. There is a member here on MCM that was trying to bring in a Yamaha Super Tenere, I'm not sure if he managed to do it or if it fell through.

Much easier thing to do is to buy a Jialing JH600 and splurge on a accessories and upgrades. Quite a few people have them, and a 600cc has plenty of comfort and power for China.

Cheers!
ChinaV

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Originally Posted by ChinaV

diplomatic status to qualify for the 1 vehicle deal.

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One of my European riding mates had a Honda Africa-Twin (rally version) and a Mercedes-Benz (beautiful old restored white 280SL with red interior) here in Shanghai imported and registered through the European consulate he was working for. That was 12+ years ago and tried to purchase the bike legally and we did not succeed even offering to pay the import tax. He tried to sell the bike within the diplomatic circle and was not allowed and both vehicles had to be exported out of the motherland to the country of origin.

Nowadays, diplomats are still allowed to import vehicles for private use?
Haven't heard anything in the last years.....

In the 90's companies investing in ML China were given quotas to import motor-vehicles tax free. Mate and I drove a black Toyota Crown each up from the "special economic zone" Shenzhen to Shanghai for the joint-venture company we were working for.... The good old adventures and times in China! No clowns & idiots that thought they are above the law.....

for embassy staff it is still possible. But also they have to export the bike after having finished their service period in China.
One of our German riding mates has this nice black plate with a red character :-)

Just to add that, official consular/embassy/diplomatic staff often aren't allowed to sell the vehicle. Dependent on the rules that were enforce the time the vehicle was imported. It is possible to see plenty of vehicles imported through the diplomatic route being sold in BJ (I'm sure those MCM BJ members would be familiar with this), but the vehicle can only usually be sold to some other diplomatic staffer.

To the OP, I can assure that the difficulty and amount of both paperwork, and substantial cost have to be factored in. I know first hand since I'm the person referred to by ChinaV, as having the Super Tenere (S10, Super10, XT1200Z) that has been waiting for the paperwork to released by the Chinese officials on this side to be able to do so. I have supplied everything on my side, to their satisfaction, and have had the verbal OK, but verbal don't mean squat. I simply have to wait until the importation and customs papers are released to me before I can ship the S10 into China. There are some complicating factors. I'm a kiwi, the bike is bought in OZ. NZ has a FTA, Australia are negotiating one, SH port would have been the authorised port of entry even though I live right beside (2km as the arrow flies) one of the biggest deep water ports in Eastern China (Ningbo). But the Ningbo port and customs now have the authorisations to accept vehicles (very recent change), so that changed things at this end. Been waiting a year. Laoshi19 for a break down of the cost check out my posting on Importing M/C from abroad into PRC

Basically the upshot is it will cost you as much if not more than the same G650GS already available in China (which might also prove a sticking point - think protectionist mindset). Simply doubling and some cases tripling the regular MSRP (USA prices is good guide) will give you the approximate price/cost of either buying a legally imported bike landed here already or bringing one in yourself.

You might be interested to know there is a special deal at the moment for the 2013 F700GS with ABS for CNY120K and the new basic R1200GS (ABS only) for 199K (with all the extras CNY249K). There'll be other offers of additional models like the F800GT near the end of the year.

There are some other posts with relevant information, but lots of incorrect info too. Some MCM members thought they'd stumbled on a scheme to import motorcycles manufactured in other ASEAN member countries (e.g. Thailand) and avoid some of the relevant taxes/duties... but...

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

Just to add that, official consular/embassy/diplomatic staff often aren't allowed to sell the vehicle. Dependent on the rules that were enforce the time the vehicle was imported. It is possible to see plenty of vehicles imported through the diplomatic route being sold in BJ (I'm sure those MCM BJ members would be familiar with this), but the vehicle can only usually be sold to some other diplomatic staffer.

To the OP, I can assure that the difficulty and amount of both paperwork, and substantial cost have to be factored in. I know first hand since I'm the person referred to by ChinaV, as having the Super Tenere (S10, Super10, XT1200Z) that has been waiting for the paperwork to released by the Chinese officials on this side to be able to do so. I have supplied everything on my side, to their satisfaction, and have had the verbal OK, but verbal don't mean squat. I simply have to wait until the importation and customs papers are released to me before I can ship the S10 into China. There are some complicating factors. I'm a kiwi, the bike is bought in OZ. NZ has a FTA, Australia are negotiating one, SH port would have been the authorised port of entry even though I live right beside (2km as the arrow flies) one of the biggest deep water ports in Eastern China (Ningbo). But the Ningbo port and customs now have the authorisations to accept vehicles (very recent change), so that changed things at this end. Been waiting a year. Laoshi19 for a break down of the cost check out my posting on Importing M/C from abroad into PRC

Basically the upshot is it will cost you as much if not more than the same G650GS already available in China (which might also prove a sticking point - think protectionist mindset). Simply doubling and some cases tripling the regular MSRP (USA prices is good guide) will give you the approximate price/cost of either buying a legally imported bike landed here already or bringing one in yourself.

You might be interested to know there is a special deal at the moment for the 2013 F700GS with ABS for CNY120K and the new basic R1200GS (ABS only) for 199K (with all the extras CNY249K). There'll be other offers of additional models like the F800GT near the end of the year.

There are some other posts with relevant information, but lots of incorrect info too. Some MCM members thought they'd stumbled on a scheme to import motorcycles manufactured in other ASEAN member countries (e.g. Thailand) and avoid some of the relevant taxes/duties... but...

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If you are waiting on a FTA for Australia emm don't h old your breath you will go beyond blue.

I'm not the one waiting. I certainly am not holding my breath for the Australian FTA, as you say I'd turn blue long before that happens. The FTA is quite a complex bit of legislation, and when I viewed the one between China and NZ, to my mind it really favours China and very much one sided. Just browse the number of Great Wall vehicles on sale in NZ (and OZ for that matter). NZ doesn't have the same parity as OZ does, what with the extent of the fundamental mineral resources etc. As for vehicles, they generally have to be made up of country specific sourced parts. Not just assembled if my memory serves me rightly. Notwithstanding NZ doesn't have any real form of automotive assembly industry let alone manufacturing per se'. So for the FTA, NZ gets dumped with the likes of Great Walls, Jialing, CFMoto el al., while NZ ships off butter, dairy, meat and other agricultural products - well that's the theory at least, since FTA is as much about bilateral market access devoid of artificial barriers as anything else.

Nope, I'm just waiting for the officialdom on this side to release the documents to start shipping the S10 from OZ. To be fair, these days I'm not pushing for it, as I take delivery of a new 650TR this coming Friday. Means fitting the fifth bike in with it's four siblings and a cage. Gonna be tight, but I'll manage. I ordered white, since two of the siblings are white, and maybe that might fool my wife for a time.
:scooter:

For what it is worth (and that is probably not much) I heard last week from Chinese riders that the 1 car/bike for a foreigner and Chinese returny will come back.

Not sure it was just a wild dream, or if there was some truth in it, but positive enough to mention.
Who knows...

Having set up a number of wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China in the past decade, I can say that there's NEVER been any provision for importing vehicles by such companies. There was, and may still be, a provision allowing such companies to obtain one or two plates for company vehicles outside of the current auction system. But since Beijing's stupid and toxic decision to make carmaking a "pillar industry of the economy" back in mid-1990s (under JZM), the assumption has been that, with rare exceptions, vehicles purchased by WFOEs would be made in China.

cheers
Euphonius

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Originally Posted by euphonius

Having set up a number of wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China in the past decade, I can say that there's NEVER been any provision for importing vehicles by such companies. There was, and may still be, a provision allowing such companies to obtain one or two plates for company vehicles outside of the current auction system. But since Beijing's stupid and toxic decision to make carmaking a "pillar industry of the economy" back in mid-1990s (under JZM), the assumption has been that, with rare exceptions, vehicles purchased by WFOEs would be made in China.

cheers
Euphonius

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This used to amuse me when I asked why doesn't the "government" purchase" made in China" vehicles.All answers were most amusing.

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Originally Posted by euphonius

Having set up a number of wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China in the past decade, I can say that there's NEVER been any provision for importing vehicles by such companies.

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Yes there has, you just didn't set them up in the correct place.

I verified with FESCO today that rep offices and WOFE's in Tianjin are entitled to import one car. No motorcycles, pickup trucks, vans, etc. They told me that Tianjin was the last and only place in China this can be done.

BTW nice of laoshi19 to add so much to the forum.

Cheers!
ChinaV

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Originally Posted by ChinaV

rep offices and WOFE's in Tianjin are entitled to import one car. No motorcycles, pickup trucks, vans, etc. They told me that Tianjin was the last and only place in China this can be done.

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did they specify what part / area of Tianjin by any chance as they got a few "special economic zones" and "bonded manufacturing / processing zones" and whatnot up in Tianjin.
got a few mates up there in Tianjin in the manufacturing and processing business.

yeah, finally some interessting issues on MCM.....


edit and add on as previouslu posted in wrong thread....

the China tax free vehicle import rumours (foreign passport holders / chinese returnees) going around once in a while and heard them in different variations through the years.
would be very-very surprised if they allow tax free motor-vehicle import to start all over again, if they do ~ lets rock n' roll once again with vehicle imports and foreign passport shuffling for the vehicle import quotas.

the 90's in China, interesting great old times and the last motor-vehicle we imported in May 98 was a brand-new red 1998 Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide.
the HD went through a few hands in Shanghai over the years and is now with a good mate in Germany as he customised the bike to his liking and exported three motorbikes tax free (HD, CJ, Dax) with his personal belongings three years ago.

in the old days some free license plates (car, truck, bike) were given to JV / WFOE companies and the number of plates was somehow interlinked with the amount of invested foreign capital (we even had black plates on delivery trucks in the 90's).
had 20+ Shanghai "A" motorcycle plates in circulation on CJ's (mates bikes) in the 90's but the Shanghai government and vehicle management bureau changed the laws and regulations and we lost most of them over night, we had a few upset bike owners.

haven't heard anything in terms of free vehicle imports for WFOE / JV companies since the start of the 2000's and they closed all the loop holes that made legal vehicle import easy and possible in the 90's.
same goes for black license plates, they stopped issuing them a few years ago and they are really fading away (execpt foreign services like consulates / embassies) or around on some very old cars as they are not transferrable anymore to my knowledge.

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Originally Posted by TB-Racing

did they specify what part / area of Tianjin by any chance as they got a few "special economic zones" and "bonded manufacturing / processing zones" and whatnot up in Tianjin.

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They didn't mention anything, and they failed to provide any kind of document showing how to do it. If your mates have rep offices or WOFE's there, might be worth checking into. We are in the process of closing our TJ office, so I don't have anyone there to look into it.

Cheers!
ChinaV

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Originally Posted by ChinaV

They didn't mention anything, and they failed to provide any kind of document showing how to do it. If your mates have rep offices or WOFE's there

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I'll have a word with the guys up in TJ and will feedback. Not sure what type / status of company they are operating under but they do some bonded area food processing for export only.

Just think about temporary motor-vehicle import for foreign passport holders, we did that in the 80's in Turkey, special temp. import and the motor-vehicles were registered with special tax free plates and the the authorities stamped the vehicle details (VIN, etc) in our passports. Only set-back, every time we flew out we had to park the motor-vehicles at a special bonded security custom zone at the Istanbul airport to obtain a special permit (took 10 min. mostly after dropping vehicles off), good one - no taxi needed once we returned to Istanbul as the vehicles were right there....
Had a Honda XR600R, Ford Bronco (V8), sold both easily to my Turkish colleagues and they had to pay all the relevant motor-vehicle import tax, still cheaper for them compared to import vehicles back than...

Hi ChinaV
Sorry you were offended that I didn't reply. I appreciated the comments and am still trying to learn about the process including using this blog. I'll try and post a general reply.

Since I'm really only interested in a BMW I didn't reply to the suggestion about a Jialing.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Cheers
Laoshi19

Thanks everyone for all of your comments. I'm trying to get in to see the local customs chief here in Yunnan. I need to get some first hand answers about this from someone who has the power to approve or disapprove the importation. Things continue to change rapidly in China.

It seems that most people think tax free import by legal laowai is difficult to impossible. I'm not in favor of doing any side payments so this may be a losing proposition but the cost of a brand new BMW in Oregon (no sales tax!) is about $9700. That is half the cost of a new F800 here and I have to add the cost of transport to Yunnan and local licensing (which should be minimal).

Personally I prefer a single cylinder having ridden extensively in South America for many years and through many countries there.

I met someone from here who bought a used BMW in Shanghai and licensed it here with no trouble. She is with a group that is now on its way to the BMW 90th birthday party in Munich and they will finish in Portugal! 16,000 kilometers!

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I'll let you know what I find out here.
Laoshi19

Laoshi19, it's nice to see you back and contributing. I know that you have your heart set on something, but this is China and she's known for breaking many hearts. When you go through all the threads and various China bikes people are riding, you will start to realise that 99% of the people riding Chinese bikes are doing it because we have to, not because we want to. I know you're not happy with the Jialing JH600, but you may want to reconscider when you look at all the factors and expenses of owning a BMW in China. I sold by BMW F650 last year, and can honestly say that it wasn't a huge step above the JH600. Think of all the added hassle with the BMW. Where will you service it? How are you going to get all the parts needed for maintenance etc. Think of how attractive a real BMW is to the thieves here.

Good luck with whatever you decide and be sure to share some rides with us.

Cheers!
ChinaV

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ChinaV,
I've lived in 5 countries and traveled to 43 so far. I've spent 9 years living in countries outside the US. I've been in more than 20 major cities in China, including Harbin, Urumqi and too many others in the areas most people know. I don't think I know very much about China but maybe I know a little. I know what a BMW is and why I want one. I am not and never want to be one of the 99%. And in Yunnan, bike thefts of BMW's are, as you can imagine, almost non-existent, partly because there are so few here and partly because it's just not Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou. Besides that, I'm careful. Where I will go are the back roads and villages far from regular thieves you know of. As for repairs, BMW's are more reliable than most and I'm a fair mechanic so I'll take my chances. That is one of the reasons I want a thumper. I rode one for 20 years and never had it fail. Besides, it's the best bike in the world!
Time will tell if I can find one at a price I can afford.
Laoshi19
Hope you can see the pictures I tried to attach. They are from Yuenyang, Yunnan

Today I figured out, you need at last 140.000 to buy a legal F700GS, plated in BJ, shipped to your town in China. Then to take care to switch the BJ registration to your place.
You cannot afford? Forget your dream for a time being until you can